Mauritius: BIMSTEC is set to hold its first-ever maritime security exercise in November 2026, involving the coast guards and navies of its seven member states, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), has said. In an interview with WION’s Sidhant Sibal on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference, Pandey highlighted India’s strong push for cooperation in the Bay of Bengal, a key part of the Indian Ocean region.&nbsp;&nbsp;“India has given a lot of importance to cooperation in maritime security,” he said. “Recently, member states have decided that for the first time, a maritime security exercise involving the Coast Guards and navies of our member states will be held. India has already convened it in November 2026 and we are working out on the operational modalities. So, this will be very important steps in ensuring maritime security of the Bay of Bengal region,” he added.&nbsp;The grouping, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, is also advancing legal frameworks, including guidelines for maritime law enforcement agencies and a white shipping agreement to enhance transparency and coordination at sea.&nbsp;2026 is shaping up to be a significant year for BIMSTEC, with a flurry of high-level meetings planned. Pandey revealed plans for two new mechanisms: a meeting of health ministers, to be hosted by Sri Lanka, and a meeting of home ministers, hosted by India. This is the first such home ministers meet under BIMSTEC. A gathering of national security advisors will precede the latter.&nbsp;“There are a lot of ministerial meetings which have been scheduled or are being scheduled to be held this year,” he said, pointing to a planned foreign ministers’ retreat hosted by Bangladesh and a BIMSTEC foreign ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Meetings of energy, tourism and culture ministers are also in the pipeline.&nbsp;“So we have made progress in energizing and revitalizing BIMSTEC, and my expectation is that this momentum will continue during 2026 and the years to come,” Pandey added.&nbsp;The ongoing crisis in West Asia has showed the value of regional platforms like BIMSTEC, Pandey noted, as member states grapple with disruptions to energy security, food security and supply chains. All members, from island nation Sri Lanka to landlocked Bhutan and Nepal—have been negatively affected.&nbsp;In response, BIMSTEC is advancing electricity grid interconnection, renewable energy promotion and a proposed food reserve. “What the West Asia crisis has highlighted is that regional groupings can provide that platform where member states can deal with some of the challenges,” he said.&nbsp;India has stepped in with supplies of petroleum products and food to support neighbours. “India has a very important role to play... India being the country with the largest capability and capacity, so Member States expect India to play a leading role, and it has been playing a leading role,” Pandey emphasised.&nbsp;He pointed to India’s current or upcoming chairs in forums like IORA, IONS and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, positioning it to shape broader maritime connectivity, blue economy and environmental efforts in the region. India will be the next chair of the grouping after Bangladesh hosts the BIMSTEC summit, possibly by next year.

BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey revealed plans for a meeting of health ministers, hosted by Sri Lanka, and a meeting of home ministers, hosted by India, in 2026. This is the first such home ministers’ meeting under BIMSTEC.

Mauritius: BIMSTEC is set to hold its first-ever maritime security exercise in November 2026, involving the coast guards and navies of its seven member states, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), has said. In an interview with WION’s Sidhant Sibal on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference, Pandey highlighted India’s strong push for cooperation in the Bay of Bengal, a key part of the Indian Ocean region. “India has given a lot of importance to cooperation in maritime security,” he said. “Recently, member states have decided that for the first time, a maritime security exercise involving the Coast Guards and navies of our member states will be held. India has already convened it in November 2026 and we are working out on the operational modalities. So, this will be very important steps in ensuring maritime security of the Bay of Bengal region,” he added. The grouping, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, is also advancing legal frameworks, including guidelines for maritime law enforcement agencies and a white shipping agreement to enhance transparency and coordination at sea. 2026 is shaping up to be a significant year for BIMSTEC, with a flurry of high-level meetings planned. Pandey revealed plans for two new mechanisms: a meeting of health ministers, to be hosted by Sri Lanka, and a meeting of home ministers, hosted by India. This is the first such home ministers meet under BIMSTEC. A gathering of national security advisors will precede the latter. “There are a lot of ministerial meetings which have been scheduled or are being scheduled to be held this year,” he said, pointing to a planned foreign ministers’ retreat hosted by Bangladesh and a BIMSTEC foreign ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Meetings of energy, tourism and culture ministers are also in the pipeline. “So we have made progress in energizing and revitalizing BIMSTEC, and my expectation is that this momentum will continue during 2026 and the years to come,” Pandey added. The ongoing crisis in West Asia has showed the value of regional platforms like BIMSTEC, Pandey noted, as member states grapple with disruptions to energy security, food security and supply chains. All members, from island nation Sri Lanka to landlocked Bhutan and Nepal—have been negatively affected. In response, BIMSTEC is advancing electricity grid interconnection, renewable energy promotion and a proposed food reserve. “What the West Asia crisis has highlighted is that regional groupings can provide that platform where member states can deal with some of the challenges,” he said. India has stepped in with supplies of petroleum products and food to support neighbours. “India has a very important role to play... India being the country with the largest capability and capacity, so Member States expect India to play a leading role, and it has been playing a leading role,” Pandey emphasised. He pointed to India’s current or upcoming chairs in forums like IORA, IONS and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, positioning it to shape broader maritime connectivity, blue economy and environmental efforts in the region. India will be the next chair of the grouping after Bangladesh hosts the BIMSTEC summit, possibly by next year.

BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey revealed plans for a meeting of health ministers, hosted by Sri Lanka, and a meeting of home ministers, hosted by India, in 2026. This is the first such home ministers’ meeting under BIMSTEC.

BIMSTEC to hold first joint maritime security exercise in November 2026, says Secretary General Pandey

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) could soon receive fresh political momentum as India, its current chair, mulls hosting a leaders' summit to coincide with the grouping's 30th anniversary. Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary-General of IORA, speaking to WION on the sidelines of the ninth Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, said India is considering the summit to "highlight the issues that are dealt with by IORA, reinvigorate it and make it more contemporary in the future".India took over the chairmanship in November 2025. The last IORA summit was held 10 years ago under Indonesian leadership to mark the organisation's 20th anniversary.&nbsp;Mr Ranjan linked the proposal to New Delhi's broader maritime vision: "As you are aware, as a larger maritime policy of the government of India, a number of initiatives are being taken to reinvigorate our maritime heritage, and perhaps this institutional framework is perhaps the most apt, as it brings together 23 member states to work together in the areas which are of contemporary relevance to them."&nbsp;IORA traces its origins to 1997, when it was formally established in this very location in Mauritius. Its founding vision stemmed from remarks by South Africa's late President Nelson Mandela during a visit to India, calling for regional cooperation on sustainable development. The 23-member body deliberately steers clear of politics. "By definition, the charter looks into issues which are cooperative in nature and does not get into divisive and contested issues," Mr Ranjan emphasised.&nbsp;Its work centres on six priority areas: maritime safety and security, disaster risk management, trade and investment, culture and tourism, fisheries and the blue economy, and women's economic empowerment. Climate change has emerged as a key cross-cutting theme. Mr Ranjan outlined IORA's twin pillars of activity: capacity-building through sharing best practices, technology and knowledge; and the development of voluntary norms and guidelines. On maritime safety, members exchange expertise on interdicting drug-trafficking vessels, conducting search-and-rescue operations, and responding to oil spills.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hails-surge-in-oil-demand-as-tankers-head-to-us-amid-west-asia-crisis-1775910646140">Trump hails surge in oil demand as tankers head to US amid West Asia crisis</a>&nbsp;Last year, the organisation adopted a framework to tackle marine debris, noting the Indian Ocean's geography makes its shores especially vulnerable to plastic pollution entering the food chain. Similar practical guidelines address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as humanitarian assistance and search-and-rescue cooperation. While IORA has no political mandate, members recognise the real-world costs of instability in shared waters.&nbsp;Referring indirectly to disruptions such as those in West Asia, Mr Ranjan said: "Any disruption in the normal functioning of the maritime space that we share has economic, social and other deleterious impact on our population." He added that the group's day-to-day work focuses on “cooperative frameworks to ensure dialogue and diplomacy always takes a prominent space instead of contested narratives being exchanged among them.”

IORA traces its origins to 1997, when it was formally established in this very location in Mauritius. Its founding vision stemmed from remarks by South Africa's late President Nelson Mandela during a visit to India, calling for regional cooperation on sustainable development. 

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) could soon receive fresh political momentum as India, its current chair, mulls hosting a leaders' summit to coincide with the grouping's 30th anniversary. Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary-General of IORA, speaking to WION on the sidelines of the ninth Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, said India is considering the summit to "highlight the issues that are dealt with by IORA, reinvigorate it and make it more contemporary in the future".India took over the chairmanship in November 2025. The last IORA summit was held 10 years ago under Indonesian leadership to mark the organisation's 20th anniversary. Mr Ranjan linked the proposal to New Delhi's broader maritime vision: "As you are aware, as a larger maritime policy of the government of India, a number of initiatives are being taken to reinvigorate our maritime heritage, and perhaps this institutional framework is perhaps the most apt, as it brings together 23 member states to work together in the areas which are of contemporary relevance to them." IORA traces its origins to 1997, when it was formally established in this very location in Mauritius. Its founding vision stemmed from remarks by South Africa's late President Nelson Mandela during a visit to India, calling for regional cooperation on sustainable development. The 23-member body deliberately steers clear of politics. "By definition, the charter looks into issues which are cooperative in nature and does not get into divisive and contested issues," Mr Ranjan emphasised. Its work centres on six priority areas: maritime safety and security, disaster risk management, trade and investment, culture and tourism, fisheries and the blue economy, and women's economic empowerment. Climate change has emerged as a key cross-cutting theme. Mr Ranjan outlined IORA's twin pillars of activity: capacity-building through sharing best practices, technology and knowledge; and the development of voluntary norms and guidelines. On maritime safety, members exchange expertise on interdicting drug-trafficking vessels, conducting search-and-rescue operations, and responding to oil spills. Also Read: Trump hails surge in oil demand as tankers head to US amid West Asia crisis Last year, the organisation adopted a framework to tackle marine debris, noting the Indian Ocean's geography makes its shores especially vulnerable to plastic pollution entering the food chain. Similar practical guidelines address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as humanitarian assistance and search-and-rescue cooperation. While IORA has no political mandate, members recognise the real-world costs of instability in shared waters. Referring indirectly to disruptions such as those in West Asia, Mr Ranjan said: "Any disruption in the normal functioning of the maritime space that we share has economic, social and other deleterious impact on our population." He added that the group's day-to-day work focuses on “cooperative frameworks to ensure dialogue and diplomacy always takes a prominent space instead of contested narratives being exchanged among them.”

IORA traces its origins to 1997, when it was formally established in this very location in Mauritius. Its founding vision stemmed from remarks by South Africa's late President Nelson Mandela during a visit to India, calling for regional cooperation on sustainable development.&nbsp;

India considers hosting IORA summit to mark 30th anniversary: IORA SG Ranjan

The Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) will be discussing the Indo-Pacific concept this week in a meet in Mauritius to understand the scope and impact of the concept on the grouping.

IORA, a group of 22 countries who share their shores with Indian ocean, are keen to understand the geopolitical construct that has the backing of New Delhi and Washington and is increasingly gaining currency in the region.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION in Pretoria, Antoinette Rademan, director of IORA at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South African foreign ministry said, "There was a request...for members to discuss it. This is taking place this week in a geostrategic workshop."

Adding, "We have to take cognisance of developments such as the Indo-pacific concept for which we have a workshop."

Delhi and Washington consider themselves as the bookends of the Indo-Pacific region. The US last year even changed the name of its largest naval command, US Pacific command, to 'Indo-Pacific Command'&nbsp;to give a boost to the growing concept.

China is deeply suspicious of the concept and sees it as its encirclement and refuses to recognise it.

Describing India's vision for Indo-Pacific, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last year said, for New Delhi, the concept stands for "Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality."

ASEAN is also discussing the concept.&nbsp;Thailand which assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year said that the grouping is working on a common approach for the Indo-Pacific concept.&nbsp;

"ASEAN is working on a common approach on an Indo-Pacific concept that complements existing frameworks such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association or IORA," Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai.

The Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) will be discussing the Indo-Pacific concept this week in a meet in Mauritius to understand the scope and impact of the concept on the grouping.

The Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) will be discussing the Indo-Pacific concept this week in a meet in Mauritius to understand the scope and impact of the concept on the grouping. IORA, a group of 22 countries who share their shores with Indian ocean, are keen to understand the geopolitical construct that has the backing of New Delhi and Washington and is increasingly gaining currency in the region. Speaking to WION in Pretoria, Antoinette Rademan, director of IORA at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South African foreign ministry said, "There was a request...for members to discuss it. This is taking place this week in a geostrategic workshop." Adding, "We have to take cognisance of developments such as the Indo-pacific concept for which we have a workshop." Delhi and Washington consider themselves as the bookends of the Indo-Pacific region. The US last year even changed the name of its largest naval command, US Pacific command, to 'Indo-Pacific Command' to give a boost to the growing concept. China is deeply suspicious of the concept and sees it as its encirclement and refuses to recognise it. Describing India's vision for Indo-Pacific, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last year said, for New Delhi, the concept stands for "Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality." ASEAN is also discussing the concept. Thailand which assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year said that the grouping is working on a common approach for the Indo-Pacific concept. "ASEAN is working on a common approach on an Indo-Pacific concept that complements existing frameworks such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association or IORA," Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai.

Indian-Ocean Rim Association to discuss Indo-Pacific concept in Mauritius meet

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BIMSTEC to hold first joint maritime security exercise in November 2026, says Secretary General Pandey

India considers hosting IORA summit to mark 30th anniversary: IORA SG Ranjan

Indian-Ocean Rim Association to discuss Indo-Pacific concept in Mauritius meet